Today i got my Soundmagic HP 100 and it's bass slam reminds me of the X1. I kinda miss my X1 but i would like to have just a tiny bit less bass (~3dB) and clearer mids. Any contenders? HD600/650 maybe? I have owned the Sennheisers before but that was many years ago and i don't remember anything about them.

Agreed. Better mids, warmth, good bass (not as much as the X1), big soundstage, smoother treble than the X1, (but not HD650 smooth, so it's more airy). The pads are very much like the X1 in that they are memory foam covered in velour. The headband design is also similar.

I know this is hard to believe but after testing some Lorn tracks, the Inakustik cable has proven to be superior. The bass is tighter and cleaner than the Mediabridge cable. It sound sharper. The mediabridge cable is good 9better than stock), but the bass still isn't AS tight as the Inakustik. The stock cable is definitely less reigned in.

It sounds great. I hadn't heard what it does with overly bassy tracks until now. The Inakustik handles it better, without a doubt.

I'm almost fully convinced it's the impedance difference, so I'm gonna place an order for the Star version cable, which won't be as nice, but will at least be manageable. I which there was a 6ft option. 5 feet is a bit too restrictive, so I have to go with the 10ft one... Oh well, $15 less...

I just hope it sounds as good. Either way, I just re-packaged the Premium cable to send back, and ordered the Star.Edited by Mad Lust Envy - 6/20/13 at 7:57am

so one of the cable you posted kind of scares me as it's labeled as silver color wall is actually a copper cable. I'd avoid that one.

I realize the desire to have the 6" cable to avoid overusing the jack on the X1, but the more your put between the HP's and the source will likely increase your resistance.

I'm tempted to make you a cable. I just got a bunch of parts in recently. The only thing I couldn't guarantee that your after is the resistance. I'm still trying to determine what variables in my cable making affect it.

If you build one with a low resistance, keep me posted. I'd be okay with a 6 footer, as long as it's as malleable (or close to) as the stock cable.

And yeah, i was thinking about that. Extension cables aren't known for keeping the SQ completely intact, so I decided to skip that. For now, I'll deal with the 9.8ft Inakustik Star cable. Can't complain for $10, and I'm sure it will at least be comparable if not better than the Mediabridge.

That's a good price for such a nice cable (IMHO), but the length is 2 feet too short (seller states it's about the size of the standard Monster cable, which I read was just over 4 feet).Edited by Mad Lust Envy - 6/20/13 at 8:29am

Hello, I'm still looking for a portable DAC/Amp for the X1 with PC or iphone as source. I initially looked at the Fiio E17 and E12, not sure I need a DAC acutally. I've also looked at the JDS Labs C5 that seems a good one too, how would it compare to the 12 ? Then Fiio or JDS ? And are there other competitors in the same price range that worth the value ? Thx

Yeah, you'll want the E17 over the E12 as the E12 is just an amp. Also, the X1 doesn't require TOO much power, and the E17 should be plentiful.

Not sure of the alternatives that are in the price range and in that form factor. Fiio brings out a lot of performance for the price. Comparable alternatives more than likely will cost twice the price.

I'm actually considering selling my Compass 2 for a cheaper, smaller setup, since I plan on sticking to my X1, and don't need all that power and size. Maybe like an Asgard 2 with an ODAC.Edited by Mad Lust Envy - 6/21/13 at 5:17am

It's a mobile PC with a basic integrated audio card.So I understand if it's a Fiio then it would the E17 (and not the E12), right ?

A proper unit with a decent DAC can improve the sound quality to easily noticeable levels while an amp can't improve a thing on its own. To put it simple, a nice amp like the E12 can give you more control over the sound... Some amps are even used to color the sound a bit to meet the listener's music tastes (tube amps are an example), however an amp can't "elevate" the sound without the proper rig. Since using the PC headphone out means you are basically double-amping, you'll probably end up exalting the quirks and the flaws of the built-in soundcard.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Padawan38

And what about alternatives ?

You can read a lot about a huge number of alternatives around here on head-fi like the Izmo M1 and the Leckerton Audio UHA S6-MKII, however they don't have the same features and/or they cost at least twice the price. The E17 is one of the best portable DAC/AMPs considering its price-to-quality&features-ratio.

Since you are looking for a simple USB DAC/AMP w/AUX-IN for portable use you should look for the less pricey units like the iBasso D-ZERO, the FiiO E07k "Alpen" or the good ol' HeadRoom Total Bithead (this one isn't recommended for sensitive IEMs and low impedance cans).

"CriCri+ VS E17
Well the E17 comes packed with accessories and features, variable gain is very helpful, and it also has a fairly clean sound, but does sound a bit warm compared to the CriCri+, I think the E17 has the upper hand in features and accessories, but the CriCri+ sounds better and is smaller and a lot more portable, as it really doesn’t add much weight or bulk to a portable setup that can be used with your computer when you need it.

I personally prefer the E17 for its features, but that is because I use IEM’s most of the time, if I used more full size cans then I would probably go for the CriCri+ as it has the upper hand in detail retrieval and overall cleaner sound."